Soil release polyesters for use in detergent compositions Polyesters are described comprising one or more structural units of the formula (I)

##STR00001##

and one or more structural units of the formula (II)

##STR00002##

and one or more terminal groups of the formula (III-a) or mixtures thereof

##STR00003##

wherein R.sup.1 is a linear or branched alkyl group comprising from 7 to 30 carbon atoms or a linear or branched alkenyl group comprising one or more double bonds and from 7 to 30 carbon atoms or mixtures thereof, a is, based on a molar average, a number from 1 to 200, and R.sup.2 is a linear or branched alkylene group (C.sub.mH.sub.2m) with m being a number from 2 to 10 or mixtures thereof.

The polyesters are particularly suited to be used as soil release agents.

The present invention provides a carboxyl group-containing polymer and a composition containing the polymer which exhibit excellent anti-soil redeposition ability in fabric washing. The carboxyl group-containing polymer includes specific ratios of a structure unit (a) derived from an ether bond-containing monomer (A), a structure unit (b) derived from a sulfonic acid group-containing monomer (B), and a structure unit (c) derived from an acrylic acid-based monomer (C), and has a specific weight average molecular weight. The carboxyl group-containing polymer composition contains the carboxyl group-containing polymer and a specific amount of a hydrogen sulfite adduct of the acrylic acid-based monomer (C).

Disclosed herein are aqueous polymer compositions, which are obtainable by radical copolymerization in water; a process for producing the aqueous polymer compositions; a method of using the aqueous polymer compositions as an anti-greying additive in washing or laundry; a method of using the aqueous polymer compositions as an anti-greying additive in liquid laundry detergent formulations or gel-type laundry detergent formulations; and a liquid laundry detergent formulation or gel-type laundry detergent formulation, which contains at least one aqueous polymer composition.

A laundry detergent formulation is provided including a detergent surfactant; a builder; a filler and an antiredeposition agent, comprising: 10 to 65 wt % of structural units of formula I

##STR00001##

wherein each R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 is independently selected from a hydrogen and a C.sub.1-3 alkyl group; 10 to 80 wt % of structural units of formula II

##STR00002##

wherein each R.sup.3 is independently selected from a hydrogen and a —C(O)CH.sub.3 group; and 10 to 65 wt % of structural units of formula III

##STR00003##

wherein each R.sup.4 is independently selected from a hydrogen and a —CH.sub.3 group; and wherein at least one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 is a C.sub.1-3 alkyl group in at least 1 mol % of the structural units of formula I in the antiredeposition agent; wherein the antiredeposition agent has a lactone end group and wherein the antiredeposition agent has a weight average molecular weight of 1,500 to 6,000 Daltons.

The invention relates to a fabric treatment composition comprising: a) from 50 to 95 wt. % of polyethylene glycol; b) from 0.1 to 15 wt. % of perfume; c) from 0.1 to 2.5 wt. % of cationic polymer; and, d) from 0.1 to 5 wt. % of silicone.

A fabric care composition comprising a modified carbohydrate polymer having quaternary ammonium groups having at least one C.sub.8-C.sub.22 alkyl or alkenyl group. The modified carbohydrate polymer has a weight-average molecular weight of at least 500,000.

The invention relates to liquid laundry detergent compositions comprising a) one or more polyesters comprising two or more of the repeating structural unit (a1), one or more of the repeating structural unit (a2) and either one or two of the terminal group (a3), wherein G.sup.1 is one or more of (OC.sub.nH.sub.2n) with n being a number of from 2 to 10, R.sup.1 is a C.sub.1-30 alkyl, p is based on a molar average, a number of from 0 to 60, q is based on a molar average, a number of from 0 to 50, whereby the (OC.sub.3H.sub.6)— and (OC.sub.2H.sub.4)— groups of the terminal group (a3) may be arranged blockwise, alternating, periodically and/or statistically and wherein the connections of the groups (OC.sub.3H.sub.6)— and (OC.sub.2H.sub.4)— to R.sup.1— and —NH are free to vary, adjacent structural units (a1) are connected by the structural unit (a2), in the case that only one terminal group (a3) is present in the polymer, the other terminal group is selected from the group consisting of OH, OCH.sub.3, and G.sup.1OH, and both terminal groups may only be linked to the structural unit (a1), and b) one or more surfactants. The one or more polyesters of component a) possess advantageous stability in alkaline environments, beneficial solubility and advantageously are clearly soluble in alkaline compositions such as liquid laundry detergent compositions and also possess advantageous soil release properties on fatty and oily stains.

##STR00001##

A method of making an aqueous cotton renewing composition for renewing a soiled cotton containing fabric is provided comprising: providing a liquid carrier; providing a cellulase; selecting a protectant polymer, comprising: 25 to 65 wt %, based on weight of the protectant polymer, of structural units of formula I

##STR00001##

wherein each R.sup.1 is independently selected from a hydrogen and a —CH.sub.3 group; and 35 to 75 wt %, based on weight of the protectant polymer, of structural units of formula II

##STR00002##

wherein each R.sup.2 is independently selected from a —C.sub.2-3 alkyl group and wherein each R.sup.3 is independently selected from a hydrogen and a methyl group; providing the selected protectant polymer; and combining the liquid carrier, the cellulase and the selected protectant polymer to form the aqueous cotton renewing composition. Also provided is a method of renewing a soiled cotton containing fabric.

The present invention relates to a detergent or cleaning composition, preferably a liquid laundry detergent composition, comprising a sulfonate group-containing copolymer, which is useful in improving anti-soil redeposition in high water hardness conditions and whiteness maintenance benefit of such detergent or cleaning composition. Processes for making and methods of using the detergent or cleaning composition are also encompassed by the present invention.

A laundry detergent formulation is provided that is formed as an aqueous blend of surfactants, enzymes, builders, and soil release polymers to inhibit soil re-deposition back onto other clothing or elements of the washing machine. The detergent formulation also contains additives with properties that impart a treatment to fabrics that inhibits future soil deposition onto the clothing with continued use. The detergent formulation provides cleaning of heavy duty grease and automotive soils from clothing surfaces that is superior to current detergent products.